Wall construction



Oct. 26, 1943. R. FELLOM WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 7, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORN EY5 Oct. 26, 1943.

FE LLOM WALL COVNSTRUCTION Filed M '7. 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'lNVENTOR20v FELLOM ,BY 2 g Patented Oct. 26, 1943 I I UNITED STATEfi FATENTOFFICE-; V j 2,332,705

WALL CONSTRUCTION Roy Fellom,,San Francisco, Calif. Application FebruaryI, 1941, Serial No. 377,808 sperms. (on. 72-20) This invention'relatesto wall construction of the type in which the wallcomprise's pre-formedslabs of relatively rigid material secured to steel studding. One of theobjects of the invention is improved slab construction provided withmeans secured thereto and arranged in a particular relation relative tothe studs, for use in securing the slab to the studs.

Another object is improved means for securing preformed slabs to spaced,parallel studs having planar, oppositely extending flanges eX tendinglongitudinally thereof, and which means includes a clip-like membercooperating between the stud flanges and slabs to progressively tightenthe slabs to the studs with increased, but yield ablepressure uponsliding such members bodily relative to the slabs and studs in adirection longitudinally of the latter.

' A still further object is a hollow wall, having combination steel andwood studs supporting andspacing opposed sides'ofsuch wall, one of whichsides is formed of pre-formed slabs of cementiticus material, such asPortland cement and sand, or concrete joined at adjacente dgesat suchstuds andback'ed'by imperforate and continuous portions of the studsextending across such juncture, while the other'of said sides is securedto the wood portions of the studs, as by nailing, and which studs areconstructed to facilitate the securement of portions or the studs atpoints between the-sides of the walland between the wood andmetalportions of said studs. a

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description anddrawingsanneiiedhereto.

In the drawings, a Fig. l is a plan view of a slab in a mold form. Fig.2 is a sectional viewtaken along line 2-2 of Fig. l.- 1 a V Fig. 3 is anenlarged fragmentary perspective view of a pair of adjacent corners oftwo slabs secured to a stud by clips that form a part of the invention.I

4c is an'enlarged fragmentary sectional view through a stud and adjacentcorners of a slab showing the at'taching clips in place securing theadjacent pairs of blocks to a stud.

' Fig. 5 is a sectional View takenialong'line 5-5 of Fig. t i

is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view of adjacent corners of'apair of slabs secured to a stud by slightly diilerent clips than isshown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view ta-lien along line l''i Of a the slabs to thesteel being shown inthe several stages of being formed.

finished slab isdesired, it may be made of sand and cementor compositionmaterial suitable for rectangular Wire frame 3 that is disposed in the iof the plane of saidframe to one side thereof.

' 2 when the material forming'said slab is placed fits structure andwith respect to the dimensions at right angles to said thickness.

Fig. dis a perspective view of aslightly modt fied form of clip.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view of a hollow wall in which the slabsare held to the steel studs by elongated loops of wire carriedby theslab. a i

Fig. 10 is a horizontal view showing the hollow wall of Fig. 9, with thetwo opposed sides of 'thewall in elevation, and with the wire loops Inmyco-pending application, Ser. No. 268,248,

filed April 7, 1939, I show wall construction, a which, in general,shows a somewhat similar type of wall construction, and this applicationrelates more to specific improvements in this general type ofconstruction. i

In detail, in'Figs; 1 and2, is shown a mold form for molding arectangular slab 2 of cementitious material, such as concrete, or wheresmoother casting or pressing to shape. Themold form constitutes no'par-tof my invention in itself,but

is helpful to" an understanding-of the advantages of the structureofthe-slab. it

The slab 2 has embedded centrally therein a plane of the slab. This.frame has legs 4 (Fig.2) adjacent the corners "thereof, which legs areformed by makingU-shaped bends in the wire ofsaid frame at said cornersprojecting laterally The U-shaped legs 4 provide means on the frameforsupporting the same on the bottom of; the

mold form in a plane parallel with said bottom, and at a distance abovethe latter so that'the sides of said frame will be centrally in the slabin the m'oldform. Hinged guide elements 5 may be secured to two oppositesides of the mold form, which elements carry notches B for positioningthe wire frame centrally in themold form relative to the sides of thelatter. Thl1S"bh8 wire frame will be centrally in the slab, as to Alsothe wire of said frame is formed to provide U-shaped loops 1 adjacentthe corners of said'frame, which loops'project to the side of said frameopposite the legs 4 and are longer than said legs so as to projectoutwardly'of one of the sides of the slab. Theloops so project ing fromone'side of the slab are parallel with two opopsiteedges of said slaband'the pair of loops at the edge adjacent thereto provide eyes inalignment with each other for purposes hereafter described. When theslabs'are hardened with the frame therein, they are removed from thewall forms for use. The legs 4 and loops I are integral with the sidesof the wire frame, and as said sides extend along all four margins ofthe slab, it is seen that the slab is strongly reinforced in a simpleand efiective manner.

The slabs, as above described, are particularly suitable for securementagainst the planar flanges 9 of steel T iron studs III, as bestillustrated in the several drawings, the same numbers being used in allof the drawings to designate the studding.

The slabs are, in all instances, positioned against pair of studs withthe pairs of loops I at each of the two opposite margins of the slabadjacent one of the studs, and said loops are disposed with theiropenings in parallel alignment with the stud adjacent thereto.

In Figs. 3 to '7, the loops 1 ar relatively short, and open indirections longitudinally of the stud that is adjacent the same. In theabove figures, it is to be understood that each slab has its twoopposite margins against one of the flanges 9 of a pair of studs I0, andthere are preferably a pair of loops 7 adjacent each stud. Only one loopon each slab is shown in said Figs. 3 to 7.

In Figs. 3 to 5, the clips for securing theslabs to the studs, eachcomprise a T having arms I! forming the head or cross bar, which head isbowed longitudinally. The leg I2 of the T is secured to the headcentrally between the ends of the latter, on the convex side thereof, bywelding and the end of the leg adjacent said head preferably terminatesabout flush with the side of the head as indicated in Fig. 5. The armsII formin the head, and the leg I2, of the clip shown in Figs. 3 to 5are preferably made of relatively heavy resilient wire so as to have aspring action when in position securing the slab to the stud.

In operation, each slab 2 is positioned against the adjacent flanges, 9of a pair of spaced, parallel studs that are disposed with their flangesplanar, and then the le I 2 of each clip is inserted through one of theloops 1. The outer ends ofthe arms II engage the rear side of a flange 9and its rear side of slab 2,"respectively. The leg I2 is so positionedrelative to the arms forming the cross head that the outer end thereofengages the rear side of the slab when th concave side of the cross headfaces theslab. Thus the clip is supported at three points. namely,

at the outer ends of the arms II and at the outer end of the leg. Upondriving, or forcin the clip in direction longitudinally of the leg I2from the end of the leg at the cross head, it will be seen that the legwill engage the side of loop I facing the slab with progressivelyincreasing 5 pressure causing the leg and cross head to tend to flattenout, thus yieldably holding the slab tight against the stud that isengaged by one end of cross head II.

The clip, when tightly, but yieldably, securing the slab to the studthat it engages, will not slip out of its tightened position except bydriving the clip in the opposite direction, since the sharp edges at theends. of the cross head I I will dig into the rear ides of the slab andflange 9, as best illustrated in Fig. 4. The outer end of, leg I2,however, is slightly curved, as indicated in Fig. 5, to prevent digginginto the slab. Also, it is important to note that the length of'the legI2 is such that it engages the loop I at an angle I3 by a length thattends to frictionally retain the leg against sliding out of the loop. InFigs. 6, 7, the clip is made from a single wire bent so as to provide across head and leg, with to the cross head the cross head bowedsimilarly of Fig. 2. In this form of the invention the leg l3 and onearm I4 of the cross head are relatively long with respect to the otherarm I5. of said cross head, and said arm v I6 of the wire forming theclip,

. which length is doubled back alongside leg I5 out of resilient sheetmetal. Thus the arms I6 ITO to connect withthe end of eg I 3 l t t ecross head where leg I3 passes over th'elegs-Il, I5. While the arms I4,I5 may be of the same,

length, the construction as shown provides tor greater resiliency of thearm I I while permitting the loops 1 to be relatively close to stud Ill.In this form of the invention, the same clip may be-used-on oppositesides of stud I 0, but ince the outer end of arm I I should tend to diginto the slab, the clips are preferably reversed in their positions atopposite sides of stud I U, as best illustrated in Fig.6. This bringsthesmoother outer end of arm I5 against the stud, while positioning thesharper outer end-of arm I 4 against the slab.

It is manifest that the manner of'functioning I4, I5, since the leg willthen act as a'brace for the arms at said juncture when the clip is in Isition.

The clip shown in Fig. 8 is one that is stamped and leg I'I'are flat.The general contour is the same as for the clip illustrated inFigs. 31:05,

but the'ends of arms I6 are cut off transversely 7 of the width of thearms to form pointed ends l8 that will engage the stud flangeand'slaby're-x spectively, in a manner to resist any tendeneyof the clipto become loosened oncetheileg I1 is j in tight engagement with one ofloops *1. Also,

if desired, in this clip as well as thoseofv Figs.

3 to '7, there may be slight indentations l9 formed on the back of legI! to engage the loop 1 against any tendency of the leg to slip relativeto the loop when in'use.

In 'all of the above forms of the invention the loops, I may besubstantially identical, and the' openings in all loops 1 face in thesame direction longitudinally of the stud flanges- The-provision ofequal length arms on the clips of Figs.

3 to. 5 and Fig. 8, eliminates any necessity for right and left handclips, hence is preferable to clip having arms of unequal lengths,sinceit is desirable that all clips be driven downward to tighteningposition rather than driving them upwardly. The clips in all forms, arehowever, loosened by driving or forcingthem out'of engagement with theloops in a to that in which they were tightened.

The use of spring clips is highly desirable for the reasons that theslabs :will not bebrokenj during tightening of the slabs by such clips,and

a small amount of give can take'place between the studs and slabs inthejevent of excessive tremors of the building, and in the event of anearth-quake. It is important to also note that the action of the clipsis a wedge action.

, In Figs. 9, 10 the loops I are much'longer than the loops used withthe clips. such that when the slabs arepositioned against the studflanges, the loops at opposite sidesfofz I5 is connected with legvbetween arms,

direction opposite Their length-is;

. therewith, by brackets 22 that are spot welded to the leg 9 of thestuds.

The outer ends of said brackets are bent, as indicated in Fig. 10, toform sockets for sealing the nailing strips therein and the nailingstrips are secured to said brackets by bolts 24.

This construction spaces the nailing strips 2i from studs l leavingclear the rear sides of the studs for easy insertion of the spring clipsas shown in Figs. 3 to 8, or for twisting the loops 1' of Fig. 10. i

The slabs are preferably connected at their adjacent edges by a plasticmaterial 25, and asphaltum impregnated strips 26 (Fig. '7) may beinterposed between the sides of the studs that are engaged by themargins of the slabs, thus forming waterproof joints that are slightlyyieldable, since the plastic used is of the type that does not becomeexcessively hard.

The manner of supporting the loops I as integral parts of a rectangularwire frame imbeddad in each slab, provides a structure that practicallyeliminates any chance of breakage of the material of the slab since theadjacent sides of the frame carry each loop. Also the slabs arereinforced along lines extending at right angles to each other, whichgreatly strengthen the slab. This feature is important where there is awedging action effected by the clips, since it is manifest that theslabs may be drawn against the studs.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In wall construction forming slab having one of its margins supportedagainst one flange of a structural steel wall supporting frame; clampingmeans for clamping said margin against said frame comprising a metalloop secured to said slab with the loop opening directed generallyparallel with said flange and disposed adjacent the said flange, and agenerally T shaped clamping member of resilient material disposed withthe leg thereof extending through said loop opening and engaging theinner side of said loop remote from said slab, and the arms respectivelyengaging said slab and the side of said flange opposite the side engagedby said margin, said leg portion of said clamping member being supportedin said loop opening for sliding including a wall longitudinally of saidleg, said arms being spaced intermediate its ends from said slab andfrom said flange to support the end of the leg at said arms spaced fromsaid slab and flange, and to support the opposite end of said legagainst said slab during said movement, whereby said arms will yieldablyhold said margin against said flange with progressively increasedpressure as said leg is moved through said opening with the outer end ofthe leg foremost.

2. In wall construction including a wall forming slab having one of itsmargins supported against one elongated flange of a structional steelwall supporting frame; a metal loop secured on said slab with its loopopening adjacent said flange and outwardly of the side of the slab thatis against said flange and directed generally parallel with said flange;a spring wire clamping member of generally T shape positioned with theleg thereof extending through and engaging the inner side of said loopand with the outer ends of the arms thereof respectively engaging thesaid side of said slab and the side of said flange that is opposite saidmargin, securing said slab against said flange.

3. In a construction as defined in claim 2, said arms being formed toengage said slab and said flange at the outer ends only thereof andspaced from said slab and flange between said outer ends, and said legengaging said slab at its outer end only and also slidably engaging theinner side of said loop that faces said slab at a point between itsends.

4. A wall construction including a wall forming slab having one of itsmarginal portions supported against one of the flat sides of a flange ofa structural steel wall supporting frame; a metal loop carried by saidslab and projecting therefrom adjacent said flange; clamping member ofresilient metal yieldably and releasably securing said slab to saidflange; said member extending through the opening of said loop and inyieldable engagement with the inner side thereof and projecting fromopposite sides of said opening, the portion of said member projectingfrom one side of said opening being in yieldable engagement with saidslab and with the side of said flang that is opposite the said marginalportion of the slab, and the portion of said member projecting from theother side of said opening being in yieldable engagement with said slab.

5. A construction as defined in claim 4, said member being of generallyT shape with the said portion thereof at one side of said openingincluding the head of the T and the portion at the other side of saidopening including the part of the leg of the T adjacent its free end.

ROY FELLOM.

